A Situational Analysis Of Livestock Production In Liberia: A Case Study of Nimba, Bong and Montserrado Counties

ABST RACT

The main objective of the study was to analyze the situation of livestock production in Liberia. The specific objectives were to analyze the population of livestock in Liberia, to establish the factors limiting the production of livestock in Liberia, to analyze Liberia land use system of the livestock production sector and to analyze the economic impact of livestock production in Liberia. The study was a case study which surveyed three counties in Liberia: Nimba, Bong and Montserrado. Nimba and Bong are in the north and Montserrado in the south respectively. Descriptive analysis was conducted through the triangulation involving both qualitative and quantitative research methods and primary data, well- structured questionnaires, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and meetings with the relevant stakeholders.

The study findings revealed that livestock production in Liberia is on the increase. However, livestock production in Liberia is limited by factors such as respondents’ lack agriculture training, insufficient infrastructure, lack of veterinary services, insufficient finances, shortage of commercial feed supplements, inefficient and ineffective implementation of Government policies, lack of market and competition from imported livestock produce.

The study established that pasture land is largely communal and is continuously used for livestock production. The study found that there is a little extent of application of pastureland management practices. Most of the farmers produce livestock for immediate consumption and sustainable livelihoods and not for commercial purposes. The study recommended that livestock should be included in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs), the public sector should develop and enforce policy and regulatory frameworks for livestock, regulatory capacity of livestock authorities should be strengthened, collective action among smallholders should be

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strengthened. Moreover, the government should encourage Private or Public-NGO partnerships to deliver livestock services to livestock farmers.